Railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO. APPLICATIQN FILED OCT. 15. 1918.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

FRAN K DUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEIDO.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed October 15, 1918. Serial No. 258,171.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and the explosive inclosing case is composed of paper or other suitable fibrous material, whereby a nonflying torpedo is provided to prevent flying particles which will injure persons who might happen to be near the exploded toredo.

p The object of the present invention is to make a cheap paper or fibrous torpedo of a button-shape, and so constructed that the joints of the case are water-tight and waterproof.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention, the same being shown attached to the tread of a railroad rail.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical central sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the parts shown in their disassembled relation and forms.

In carrying out my present invention, I employ a shallow cup-shaped member 1, in which an approximately button shaped explosive tablet 2 is placed, thus forming the tablet with a rounded top ending in a tapered peripheral edge 3. This buttonshaped explosive 2', is placed within the case 1, and a dome-shaped disk or cover 4 1 placed thereover. These members 1, 2 and 4 are then placed within and are inclosed by the outer cup-shaped member 5, which performs the double function of holding the rail-attaching strap 6, and of uniting the parts together, as will be presently explained.

These parts 1, 2, 4 and 5, are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, the cup-shaped member 5 being considerably deeper than the shallowcup-shaped member 1. Preferably the railengaging strap 6 is passed or threaded through openings 7 in the outer case 5 before the parts are assembled.

In assembling the parts, the shallow cupshaped member 1 is placed within the relatively deeper cup-shaped member 5; the explosive 2 is placed within the shallow cupshaped member 1, and the dome-shaped top 7 or cover 4 is placed over the explosive 2 and within the cup-shaped member 1. With the parts thus assembled, the peripheries 8 and 9 of the members 5 and l are crimped inward tightly over the dome-shaped top 4, with the peripheral wall 8 lapping over and beyond the peripheral wall 9. These crimped in flanges or walls 8 and 9 are cemented in their crimped position by cement 10.

The cup-shaped members 5 and 1 and the dome-shaped member 4 are composed of water-proof paper or fiber, for the purpose of protecting the explosive, 2, from moisture, and the cement 10 is composed of water-proof cement so that the torpedo when completed is water-tight and water-proof.

It will, of course, be understood that in the assembling of these parts, the explosive 2 and dome-shaped top 4 may be placed within the cup-shaped member 1, and the flange 9 crimped thereover before it is placed within the cup-shaped member 5. In this instance, the flanges 8 and 9 will be separately crimped instead of being crimped together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fibrous water-proof non-flying railway signal torpedo, comprising a fibrous cup-shaped case, a button-shaped explosive tablet within the case, a dome-shaped top fitting within the case and inclosing the tablet, the side wall of the cup-shaped case crimped inward and water-proof cemented to the said dome-shaped top throughout its periphery.

2. A fibrous water-proof non-flying railway signal torpedo, comprising inner and outer fibrous cup-shaped cases, the side wall of the outer case projecting beyond the side wall of the inner case, an explosive within the inner case, a top within the inner case inclosing the explosive, the side wall of the inner case projecting beyond the periphery of the top, the side walls of both of the cases turned inward over and water-proof cemented to the top, and a rail-attaching member connected to the case. 7

3. A fibrous water-proof non-flying railway signal topedo, comprising a fibrous cupshaped case, an explosive therein, a domeshaped top Within the case and inclosing the explosive, yond the top and turned smoothly inward over the top and Water proof cemented thereto throughout its periphery to ma-kea Water-tight joint, and a rail-attaching member connected With the case.

4. A fibrous Water-proof non-flying rail- Way signal torpedo, comprising inner and outer fibrous cup-shaped cases, the side Wall of the outer case projecting beyond the side Wall of the inner case, an explosive Within the inner case, a cover Within the inner case and inclosing the explosive, the side Walls of both cases turned over the cover with the Copies of this the side of the case extending be-' Wvithin the said cavity, for the purpose described, and a rail-engaging member carried by the case.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

FRANK DUTOHER.

Witnesses:

INEZ T. \VALDEN, L. L. BURKET.

patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

